Accordion



April 12, 1938. F. POLLINA 2,114,085

ACCORDION Filed July 11, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l Gum/mug April 12, 1938. Q P UNA 2,114,085

ACCORDION Filed July 11, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2- F. POLLINA April 12, 1938.

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ACCORDION Filed July 11, 1956 5 Shets-Sheet 4 April 12, 1938. F. POLLINA 2,114,085

ACCORDION Filed July 11; 1956' 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inn-II- 223::

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0m Pam? Patented Apr. 12, 1938 PATENT OFFICE ACCORDION Frank Pollina, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 11,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved accordion.

In its more specific aspect, the invention contemplates the provision of a novel and improved keyboard structure constituting a marked advance over the keyboard structures currently employed in the manufacture of accordions.

It is the purpose and object of the invention to provide an accordion embodying a keyboard structure adapted to occupy a position, when the accordion is being played, that will permit the players forearm, wrist, and hand to lie in a normal position.

Practically all accordions commercially produced today are equipped with a keyboard extending at such an angle to the accordion that the player is forced to assume an unnatural and strained position. In other words, the players forearm and wrist are under a strain created by virtue of the relationship of the keyboard to the accordion. This initial strained position of the players arm and hand materially detracts from his efliciency in handling the instrument.

The present invention completely obviates these objections and difficulties in the prior art constructions. Additionally, the present invention provides a highly eflicient valve actuating mechanism, enabling the player to operate the accordion with a minimum of effort, yet insuring excellent control over the operation of the valves.

It is a further and more detailed object of the invention to provide a keyboard that substantially overlies the valve plate, the keyboard and valve plate being positioned in planes that intersect to form an acute angle intermediate the valve plate and the keyboard together with operating connections intermediate the keys and the valves for efficiently actuating the valves.

It is a more specific purpose and object of the invention to provide two rows of valves, the valves of one row being under the control of the black keys of the keyboard while the valves of the other row are under the control of the white keys of the keyboard.

It is additionally an object of the invention to provide a novel keyboard that can be economically manufactured and one that embodies readily replaceable parts, which permits of its easy assembly and repair.

Further and more detailed objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description given in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view,

1936, Serial No. 90,221

with parts broken away, of my improved accordion;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the relationship of the keyboard and valve plate;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the keyboard and valve plate with the cover plate removed;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view with parts broken away to illustrate the valve actuating connections; 1

Figure 5 is a top plan view illustrating detailed connections for operating the valves;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating the mounting and operating means for the valve of the front row; 15

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating the mounting and operating connections for the valve of the rear row;

Figure 8 is a detailed perspective view showing the connection from one of the white keys to the associated valve; and

Figure 9 is a detailed perspective view illustrating the connection from a black key to its associated valve.

Referring to Figure l, the accordion is illus-- trated generally at I and embraces the usual bellows, wind chamber, and the like. It is provided with the novel keyboard construction indicated generally at 2. This keyboard construction embraces a valve plate 3 mounted directly on the wind chamber of the accordion. Overlying the valve plate and extending at an angle thereto is the keyboard 4 provided with the white keys 5 and the black keys 6. A front cover plate 1 of suitable contour bridges and encloses the space between the end of the keyboard and the accordion housing, while a rear wall 8, in the form of a removable closure plate, bridges the space between the keyboard 4 and the valve plate 3. m

The valve plate3 is provided along its forward edge with a row of valve openings 9 and along its rear edge with a row of valve openings ID. The valve openings of the front row are closed by valves l I and the valve openings of the rear row by valves l2. The relationship of these rows of valves is well illustrated in Figure 5.

By reference to Figures 1 and 2, it will be observed that the keyboard 4 lies in a plane substantially parallel to that at which the forearm of the player extends when operating the 9.0- Q cordion. There is no necessity to place any strain upon the forearm or wrist in order to actuate the keys of the keyboard. Additionally, it will be observed that the white keys 5 terminate practically in alignment with the rear of the accordion that rests against the player. This brings the keys into a position where they are readily accessible to the player and from which they can be actuated with facility and ease.

Returning now to a more detailed description of the valve actuating mechanism, it will be observed that the white keys are held in normally extended position by a leaf spring i3 (see Figure 2) and are. pivoted to the keyboard at M. The opposite end of the white key has rigidly secured thereto a wire lever l5 of peculiar configuration, as illustrated, for example, in Figure 4. These wire levers i5 are provided with horizontally extending portions l6 at their free ends, which portions I6 are adapted to have sliding engagement in the channel I! provided by the bracket member 18 carried on the back of the valves II. The bracket members I8 extend beyond the ends of the valves ii and are pivotally mounted in bearing brackets l9 carried by the valve plate 3. The bracket members 18 are rigidly secured to the valves i I so that the valve and brackets move as a unit about the axis 26 mounted in the brackets l9 (see particularly Figure 8).

The arrangement is such that when a white key is actuated and depressed against the action of the leaf spring I3, its opposite end moves upwardly about the pivot 14 and exerts a pull upon the wire lever l5, which, because of sliding engagement of the extension H5 in the channel ll of the bracket I8, lifts the valve H together'with the bracket l8 about the pivotal axis 20 mounted in the bracket I9. When the white key is released, the leaf spring 13 restores it to normal position and likewise positively closes the valve H.

Now referring to the actuation of the valve l2 under control of the black keys 6 and referring particularly to Figures 2 and 9, it will be observed that the black keys are likewise pivoted at M and have connected at their free ends a thrust link 2i having one end mounted in the bracket member 22 carried on the end of the black keys 6 and the opposite end pivotally connected at 23 to the peculiarly formed bell crank 24. The bell crank 24 has a horizontal extension 25 mounted in a bracket 26. The leg 21 of the bell crank 24 extends forwardly and is rigidly connected at 28 to the valve I2. A coil spring 29 surrounds the horizontal extension 25 of the bell crank and tensions the valve i2 to closed position.

Now describing the mode of operation of the valves l2, it will be observed that when the black keys 6 are depressed, the thrust links 2| are pushed forwardly and move the bell crank 24 in a clockwise position against the tension of spring 29. This thrust lifts the leg 21 of the bell crank 24 and with it the valve 12. When the black key 6 is released, coil spring 29 immediately restores the valve 12 to closed position and actuates bell crank 24 in an anti-clockwise direction to return, through the thrust link 2!, the black key to its normal position. A series of the valves i2 is well illustrated in Figure '7, whereas the general relationship for the operating connections between the black keys and the valves I2 is well illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 5.

variation in configuration of the thrust link 2i is well brought out by reference to Figure 3.

By referring to Figure 4, it will be observed that the wire levers connecting the white keys 5 for actuation of the valves II are of different specific configuration, depending upon whether they are located at the left-hand or the righthand end of the keyboard. The degree of curvature and the extent to which the respective ends of the levers l5 are offset depend upon the position of the key 5 and its associated valve II. The degree of curvature of the wire lever 15 diminishes toward the center of the keyboard.

It will be observed that the front cover plate 5 can be readily removed to permit access to all of the valves II and the associated elements through the medium of which these valves are actuated by the white keys 5. Figure 4 gives an idea of the freedom of access to these parts when the cover plate 1 is removed.

Removal of the back plate 8 permits ready and easy access to all of the connections intermediate the black keys 6 and the valves l2. Reference to Figure 3 will at once show the ready availability of these operating connections.

The improved accordion constructed in accordance with the present invention greatly minimizes the effort required in playing the instrument. It permits a naturalness in posture of the player which permits freedom of action that enables the player to perform with greater ease and facility. The simplicity of the mechanism insures of positive control over the actuation of the valves in a most facile and efficient manner.

The ready availability of the operating parts and the simplicity of the construction make it possible to keep the accordion in excellent playing condition and to replace any broken or worn parts readily.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided a novel and efficient accordion possessing characteristics that render it especially efficient and adapted for easy control and operation with a minimum of discomfort and effort on the part of the player. It will, of course, be appreciated that the foregoing specific description is merely illustrative of my invention and that the detailed description is to be considered as explanatory and not as limiting the scope of the invention which is comprehended by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an accordion having all of the keyboard actuated valves located in a valve plate lying in a single plane and forming one wall of a wind chest, a keyboard spaced from said valve plate and lying in a plane that intersects the plane of the valve plate to form therewith an acute angle, said valves being arranged in parallel rows extending longitudinally of the valve plate, actuating members rigidly connected to all of said valves, bearing members supported on the valve plate and pivotally mounting said valve actuating members, means connecting the valve actuating members of one row with one set of keys on the keyboard, and means connecting the valve actuating members of the other row with a different set of keys on the keyboard.

2. In an accordion, a valve plate lying in a single plane and having a front row of valve ports and a rear row of valve ports, rows of valves for closing said ports, a valve actuating member rigidly connected to each valve, a row of valve bearings supported on the valve plate outwardly of each row of valves and in which the valve actuating members are journaled, a keyboard having two sets of keys overlying a substantial portion of the valve plate, and means for operatively connecting the sets of keys to the actuating members of said valves.

3. Inan accordion, a valve plate lying in a single plane and having a front row of valve ports and a rear row of valve ports, a row of valves for closing each row of ports, a U-shaped bracket member rigidly connected to each valve of the front row, a bell crank lever rigidly connected to each valve of the rear row, a row of bearings supported on the valve plate outwardly of the front row and in which the said hook-shaped valve brackets are journaled, a row of bearings positioned on the valve plate outwardly of the rear row of valves and in which the said bell crank levers are journaled, a keyboard having two sets of keys overlying a substantial portion of the valve plate, a member connected to each key of one set and slidably engaging the hook portion of the bracket member for a valve of the front row, and a member connected to each key of the second set and pivotally connected to a bell crank lever for a valve of the rear row.

FRANK POLLINA. 

